Gabuza Off The Mark As Bucs Progress In Champions League

Orlando Pirates advanced to the next round of the CAF Champions League with an 8-2 aggregate victory over Light Stars in the preliminary round.

As expected, Milutin Sredojević rang the changes with one eye on Saturday's Telkom Knockout final against Baroka, while the Soweto giants led 5-1 from the first leg win.

Thamsanqa Gabuza was handed his first start since his infamous sending off against Black Leopards in August, while the team was relatively the same from the first leg, with the exception of Augustine Mulenga and Marshall Munetsi who were rested.

The Buccaneers broke the deadlock in the 11th minute thanks to midfielder Linda Mntambo, who was also on target in the first leg, after combining with Kudakwashe Mahachi.

Despite the fiery start, clear-cut chances were hard to come by for both chances as the half, with most of the play taking place in the midfield.

However, neither side could add to the scoreline in the remaining stages of the first half as the visitors went into the break leading by a solitary strike.

The Buccaneers came out firing in the second half and they were rewarded with a second goal on the hour mark, with Gabuza netting his first goal of the season.

Nine minutes later, it was 3-0 as defender Abel Mabaso bagged his first of the campaign after the Light Stars shot-stopper failed to deal with Gabuza's initial effort.

Sredojevic opted for a change in the 73rd minute of the encounter as Makola made way for Meshack Maphangule for the final 17 minutes.

Light Stars did manage to pull a goal back in the 85th minute from a corner kick, although the tie was well and truly done by then.

That proved to be the final bit of goal-mouth action in the encounter as Pirates run out 3-1 winners in the second leg and 8-2 winners on aggregate.